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Early Learning

Seattle Public Schools Early Learning

Why is Early Learning Important?

kindergarten students and teacher

Research has firmly established that investing in early learning yields powerful benefits for children, both in early elementary and as a cornerstone to their overall educational success with life long benefits.

High-quality preschool programs have the potential to close opportunity gaps, provide substantial learning gains, and prepare children for success in the kindergarten classroom and beyond.

At Seattle Public Schools our Early Learning Vision is that all families and children have access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and inclusive learning experiences from preschool through fifth grade.

Every child deserves high-quality instruction that meets their individual needs. Early childhood education promotes the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. 

Important Dates

Outreach Events & School Tours

Preschool Enrollment

Choice Enrollment Period

Kindergarten Enrollment

Results, Transitions, and Connections

  • June 1 EEU Preschool Results
  • Released following open enrollment EEU Kindergarten Results
  • Late August – Early September Kindergarten Transition Activities
  • Sept. 3 – 5 Preschool & Kindergarten Family Connections
  • Nov. 24 – 26 Family-Teacher Conferences
  • March 19 – 20 SPP and Head Start Spring Conferences

Start of School

  • Sept. 8 First Day of School for Preschool & Kindergarten

Early Learning Special Education Services

Seattle Public Schools offers special education services for children age 3-5 determined eligible with a disability that impacts educational progress and who are in need of specially designed instruction. Learn more about SPS services and programs.

Child Find: Special Education Referrals

Child Find is a district process to identify children birth-21 suspected of having a disability to evaluate and identify need for Special Education and Related Services. Learn more about Child Find.

Contact SPS Child Find: 206-252-0805, childfind@seattleschools.org 

Experimental Education Unit (EEU)

Seattle Public Schools contracts with the Experimental Education Unit (EEU) at University of Washington for a limited number of special education seats to provide SPP Plus Preschool and Kindergarten Special Education Services.  

Who is eligible to apply for EEU?

  • Kindergarten: Students who turn five years old and who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) by August 31
  • Preschool: Seattle Public Schools preschool students who are at least 3 years old and who have or will have a completed Individualized Education Program (IEP) by May 31.

Learn more about EEU preschool and kindergarten.

Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

When your child transfers into Seattle Public Schools (SPS) with an existing IEP, we want to make the process as smooth and supportive as possible. This guide explains what you can expect and how we partner with you to ensure your child receives the services they need right away.

1. Enrollment Comes First

Before we can begin special education services, your child must be officially enrolled in SPS. Here is the link for enrollment. You can also enroll in person at the John Stanford Center. You will also fill out a special education addendum.

2. Continuing Services Right Away

• SPS will honor your child’s current IEP as closely as possible.
• If we don’t have the exact same program or service, we will provide similar supports in the most appropriate setting.
• Services begin without unnecessary delay—we do not wait for new meetings before starting support.

3. How We Support You

Program Specialist:
• Reviews your child’s IEP and evaluation.
• Connects with you to talk about services and placement options.
• Works with the school and service providers to set up supports quickly.
• Provides you with a Prior Written Notice (PWN) that explains our plan.

Case Manager:
• Updates your child’s IEP in our system.
• Coordinates with teachers and service providers to make sure supports start right away.
• Schedules a meeting with you if changes to the IEP are needed.

IEP Team:
• Meets if necessary to review services.
• Ensures decisions are based on your child’s needs and the principle of learning in the least restrictive environment (with peers whenever possible).
• Always includes you as an active team member.

4. Compliance & Timeliness

• By law, SPS must provide comparable services as soon as enrollment is complete.
• Communication between you, the school, and our district teams is essential.
• We carefully document every step so you have a clear record of services and decisions.

Together, we are committed to supporting your child’s learning and making this transition as smooth as possible.

Preschool

Seattle Preschool Program and Head Start Applications open for the 2025-26 school year March 14.

Seattle Public Schools offers three different preschool options for children ages 3-5 years old.

SPS Preschool Locations Map 2024-25
SPS Preschool Locations Map 2025-26

Kindergarten

2025-26 Kindergarten Enrollment: Will your child be 5 years old by August 31, 2025? If YES, your child is eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Register today for the 2025-26 school year. 

Find more information and resources on our kindergarten webpage.

Family Connection Conferences

Preschool and Kindergarten Family Connection Conferences

These one-on-one meetings, held during the first short week of school, are intended to welcome Preschool and Kindergarten families to school and provide a safe environment for families to speak freely with the teacher, share information about their child, and ask questions. Learn more about Family Connections.

Childcare Options

Finding a quality childcare arrangement for your child is a big decision for families. We have collected a list of childcare providers who provide before and after school childcare as well as preschool programs at schools in the district.

Please contact the provider directly to learn more about enrollment and their programs. Read more about school-based Childcare Providers.